The Portland Fire might not be playoff-bound as the 2026 WNBA season wraps up, but holy smokes, they’ve been playing some seriously “pesky” basketball. Sitting in ninth place, they’re straight up *ahead* of five non-expansion teams! That’s no small feat for a brand new squad. While Toronto’s Tempo, who started 7-5 themselves before injuries wrecked their 11-30 record, found some talent post-draft, it was the expansion draft that truly set the tone. It’s time we really dig into how these inaugural picks panned out.
Carla Leite and Bridget Carleton: Portland’s Rising Stars
Talk about hitting the jackpot! The Fire’s No. 3 pick, Carla Leite, has been an absolute revelation, becoming what many consider their best player. They put their faith in a player who only averaged seven points in 17.2 minutes per game with the Golden State Valkyries, and Leite delivered a phenomenal season with 15.8 points and 6.3 assists per game. She’s also shooting 39.8 percent from deep, a huge jump! If she can get that volume up while keeping that accuracy, watch out, WNBA. Seriously.
Then there’s the No. 1 pick, Bridget Carleton. Everyone knew she flashed star potential with the Minnesota Lynx in 2024, averaging 9.6 points on a ridiculous 44.4 percent from three with 91 makes, even finishing third in Most Improved Player voting. She was expected to ascend, and guess what? She’s averaging a very good 14.3 points per game for the Fire, shooting 36.8 percent from beyond the arc with 106 makes, good for fifth in the entire league! And she’s 10th in the W with 1.6 steals per game. This pick was solid gold.
The Other Bets: Ups and Downs
Not every pick is a home run, right? Luisa Geiselsöder, the Fire’s No. 5 pick, had a tough rookie year with the Dallas Wings, averaging 6.9 points across 28 games. For Portland, she averaged 22.4 minutes and six points over the first nine games, but struggled from deep, going 8-for-31 (25.8 percent). She got pulled from the starting lineup, her minutes dropped to 12.2 over the next 12 outings, and then her contract got temporarily suspended for the FIBA World Cup. It’s totally unclear if she’ll even be back next year. That’s a rough road.
But then you have Emily Engstler, the No. 7 pick. This No. 4 pick from the 2022 college draft bounced around from the Fever to the Lynx to the Mystics without ever really making a major impact. But with the Fire? She’s upped her career-best scoring average by 4.1 to 10.3 points per game! She’s shooting 37.1 percent from three on a career-high 1.3 makes per game, and her “stocks” are legit: 14th in the W in steals per game and eighth in blocks per game. That’s a serious come-up for Engstler, and a great snag for Portland.
What’s Next for the Fire?
So, the Fire didn’t make the playoffs, and the Tempo finished 11-30, battling serious injury woes after their own 7-5 start. But looking at Portland’s expansion draft success with players like Leite and Carleton, and the big leap from Engstler, there’s a lot to be excited about. Can they keep building around these foundational pieces? Who steps up next season, especially if Geiselsöder doesn’t return? This team showed grit and a real eye for talent in that expansion draft. The future in Portland looks brighter than ever, and that’s saying something for an expansion squad!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Swish Appeal.
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